Seals are used by archaeologists to reconstruct the religious practices of the Harappan people. Which of the following religious practice is NOT indicated by examining seals?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Sacrifices
Option (1) Ritual Scenes — Indicated by seals. Some seals seem to depict ritual scenes, and archaeologists use them to reconstruct religious beliefs and practices.
Option (2) Nature Worship — Indicated by seals. Seals with plant motifs are thought to indicate nature worship.
Option (3) Sacrifices — Not indicated by seals. Seals are read for ritual scenes, nature worship, mythical creatures and a “proto-Shiva” figure, but not for sacrifices. Ritual significance has been given to some structures instead, such as the Great Bath and the fire altars found at Kalibangan and Lothal.
Option (4) Animal, composite creatures — Indicated by seals. Some animals depicted on seals, such as the one-horned animal often called the “unicorn”, seem to be mythical, composite creatures.
NCERT (2026-27): “11.2 Problems of interpretation … In other instances, structures have been assigned ritual significance. These include the Great Bath and fire altars found at Kalibangan and Lothal. Attempts have also been made to reconstruct religious beliefs and practices by examining seals, some of which seem to depict ritual scenes. Others, with plant motifs, are thought to indicate nature worship. Some animals – such as the one-horned animal, often called the ‘unicorn’ – depicted on seals seem to be mythical, composite creatures. In some seals, a figure shown seated cross-legged in a ‘yogic’ posture, sometimes surrounded by animals, has been regarded as a depiction of ‘proto-Shiva’, that is, an early form of one of the major deities of Hinduism. Besides, conical stone objects have been classified as lingas.…” |